Icelandic units of measurement

A number of units of measurement were used in Iceland to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. Since 1907, metric system has been compulsory in Iceland.[1][2]

Older System of Unit before Metric System

A number of units were used and these units were analogues to Danish.

Length

A number of units were used in Iceland to measure length. One fet was equal to 0.31385 m and one sjómíla was equal to 1855 m, as they were defined by their metric equivalents.[1] Some other units are given below:[1][3]

1 lína = 1/144 fet

1 þumlungur = 1/12 fet

1 alin = 2 fet

1 faðmur = 6 fet

1 míla á landi (or landmíla) = 24,000 fet

Þingmannaleið = 20,000 faðmar = 120,000 fet[4]

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass. One pund was equal to 0.5 kg as it was defined by its metric equivalent.[1] Some other units are given below:[1][3]

1 mörk = 1/2 pund[5]

1 fisk = 8 pund

1 fierding = 40 pund

1 liespund = 64 pund

1 tunna smjörs = 224 pund

1 skippund = 320 pund

1 batt = 320 pund

Area

A number of units were used to measure area. One ferfaỗmur (plural. ferfaðmar) was equal to 3.546 m2 and one fermila was equal to 56.7383 km2, as they were defined by their metric equivalents.[1] Some other units are given below:[1]

1 ferþumlungur = 1/5184 ferfaỗmur

1 ferfet = 1/36 ferfaỗmur

1 feralin = 1/9 ferfaỗmur

1 túndagslátta = 900 ferfaỗmar

1 engjateigur = 1600 ferfaỗmar

Capacity

A number of units were used to measure capacity. One pottur (plural. pottar) was equal to 1/32 fet2, and was equal to 0.9661 l as it was defined by its metric equivalent.[1] Some other units are given below:[1][3]

1 kornskeppa = 18 pottar

1 anker = 39 pottar

1 almenn tunna = 120 pottar

1 öltunna = 136 pottar

1 korntunna = 144 pottar

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 8.
  2. ↑ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  3. 1 2 3 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 117,118. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  4. ↑ http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=2940
  5. ↑ http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6557
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